Industry Association Backs Government's Ban on Vape Use for Under-21s

“We have issued an official letter prohibiting vape shops from selling to minors and urging them to display a ‘21+’ sign in front of their stores. We will request identification (KTP),” said Fachmi. Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Vape Retail Association (Arvindo) and the Smoke-Free Movement (Gebrak) support the government’s efforts to prevent anyone under the age of 21 from accessing electronic cigarettes (vapes). This measure is part of efforts to protect children and adolescents. Arvindo Chairman Fachmi Kurnia said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday that Arvindo had instructed all its members not to serve vape purchases to those under 21. “We have issued an official letter prohibiting vape shops from selling to minors and urging them to display a ‘21+’ sign in front of their stores. We will request identification (KTP),” Fachmi said. He also emphasised that in every campaign, the association consistently conveys the message that alternative tobacco products should only be used as a means for adult smokers who are trying to reduce their smoking habits. Regarding policy, Arvindo hopes that a science-based approach should be given space in the policy-making process so that the resulting regulations are evidence-based and in line with their intended purpose. “We hope that the Ministry of Health can see vapes as a solution based on research, as in many countries, and not just as cigarettes in another form. The Ministry of Health’s good intentions to reduce the health effects of cigarettes have been in place for decades. Therefore, we believe that the Ministry of Health needs to open up to new approaches, namely harm reduction,” said Fachmi. The use of alternative tobacco products as a solution for adult smokers is also supported by scientific findings in a study in the JAMA Network titled ‘Prevalence of Popular Smoking Cessation Aids in England and Associations With Quit Success’ (2025). The study, which involved 25,094 smokers, revealed that electronic cigarettes are the most commonly used smoking cessation aid, accounting for 40.2 per cent of attempts in the 2023-2024 period. On a different occasion, Gebrak Chairman Garindra Kartasasmita emphasised the importance of the role of vape shops or retail businesses in educating consumers. He hopes that vape shop owners will not only sell products but also become educational partners. “This commitment is important so that shop owners also educate each of their customers about the dangers of cigarette smoke and tar, and that there are alternative tobacco products that are different from cigarettes,” he said. According to Garindra, Gebrak’s vision is to educate the public as widely as possible, both users and non-users of cigarettes, with balanced and responsible information. Through this synergy, the association hopes that efforts to protect children can go hand in hand with support for innovation in risk reduction, while also contributing to reducing the prevalence of smoking in Indonesia. Copyright © ANTARA 2026 It is strictly prohibited to take content, crawl or automatically index for AI on this website without written permission from the ANTARA News Agency.